[Cob] International Building Code

[ocean]

Thoughts from Intaba's Restaurant:

During our wild ride with our local building department, I did some 
research with the IBC, which governs the local building codes and is 
available in our local county library system.  To my interest and 
dismay, I am certain cob would be covered under the code which describes 
"UNFIRED CLAY MASONRY" - this is where you will find rules regarding 
adobe.  The dismay comes from the IBC requirement that a "stabilizing 
agent" be added - usually asphalt emulsion or Portland cement - yuck!

Again, we were able to build a cob garden wall around our courtyard, 
which under 6 feet in height requires no structural engineering.  The 
cob in our oven was overlooked by the building officials as needing 
structural review (!), though they required us to engineer as 
concrete-and-rebar foundation for the oven, and specified a zero-pass 
chimney for the roof penetration.

I'd be interested if anyone could research the codes in Victoria, BC, 
where I've heard cob buildings are being code-approved!!!

Ocean

On Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at 10:26  PM, Deborah Denmark wrote:

> I got very brave today!
> I went to the building inspectors office in Jackson County, NC where I 
> live and asked some questions.
> The big bad building inspector was not to be seen and basically I found 
> out the initial things I need to do to get a permit for a cob house of 
> my design.  This process most likely varies from one county to the next.
> The most important thing I learned was that North Carolina is 
> definitely governed by the International Building Code and that I would 
> have to purchase the BOOK on this code if I need it to design and 
> build, meaning if I don't know what the code is.  Which I don't.  But I 
> would want to exceed the code I would think.
> Well, I already know this information is expensive and I am pretty sure 
> that there is no code specifically for cob in the IBC.
> Please, someone correct me if I am mistaken on this.
> Also, I am thinking that perhaps we could as a group purchase one copy 
> of the IBC and share it amongst us.
> Would that be illegal?  If illegal to copy and disperse, then perhaps 
> we could lend it around?
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks,
> Deborah
> ddenmark at earthlink.net
> http://home.earthlink.net/~ddenmark/GreenTreeArtsHome.html
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